[ EDITORIAL ]

Airline Hangups: Think Before Allowing Calls

Published: Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 20, 2013 at 9:02 p.m.

As if bawling babies, sardine-tin seating and jammed overhead bins aren't enough, modern air travel may soon include the joys of incessant, inane prattle of passengers on cellphones.

Excerpted from an editorial by Newsday.

The Federal Communications Commission is poised to change its rules to clear the way for airlines to allow fliers to talk on cellphones above 10,000 feet. If there's no safety or technical reason to continue the ban, then the FCC should end it.

But air carriers should tread carefully in deciding whether to allow cell conversations; the public opposes them 2 to 1, according to recent polling.

Air travelers already can use Wi-Fi devices above 10,000 feet.

And in October the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban on tablets, e-readers and smartphones used in airplane mode during takeoffs and landings to read, play games, watch movies or listen to music.

Voice calls are the final frontier. ...

If it's lifted, the FAA could decide to continue banning calls.

If not, then airlines would be freed to decide whether to allow them. That's the right approach.

Air carriers should try various approaches and let consumers decide which they prefer.

Some could allow unrestricted voice calls.

Others might limit calls to 30 minutes before landing, or after announcements of flight delays, so fliers could call people meeting the flight.

Segregated seating (chatterboxes in back, please) is another possibility. So is banning all calls. ...

<p>As if bawling babies, sardine-tin seating and jammed overhead bins aren't enough, modern air travel may soon include the joys of incessant, inane prattle of passengers on cellphones.</p><p><center><i>Excerpted from an editorial by Newsday.</i></center></p><p>The Federal Communications Commission is poised to change its rules to clear the way for airlines to allow fliers to talk on cellphones above 10,000 feet. If there's no safety or technical reason to continue the ban, then the FCC should end it. </p><p>But air carriers should tread carefully in deciding whether to allow cell conversations; the public opposes them 2 to 1, according to recent polling.</p><p>Air travelers already can use Wi-Fi devices above 10,000 feet. </p><p>And in October the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its ban on tablets, e-readers and smartphones used in airplane mode during takeoffs and landings to read, play games, watch movies or listen to music.</p><p>Voice calls are the final frontier. ...</p><p>If it's lifted, the FAA could decide to continue banning calls. </p><p>If not, then airlines would be freed to decide whether to allow them. That's the right approach. </p><p>Air carriers should try various approaches and let consumers decide which they prefer. </p><p>Some could allow unrestricted voice calls. </p><p>Others might limit calls to 30 minutes before landing, or after announcements of flight delays, so fliers could call people meeting the flight. </p><p>Segregated seating (chatterboxes in back, please) is another possibility. So is banning all calls. ...</p><p>[ Note: Ledger editorials and Editorial Page Editor Glenn Marston are on vacation. Ledger editorials resume Jan. 7. ]</p>